Compare towns
Ayer vs Ware vs Warren
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Massachusetts.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Ware has the shortest commute (28 min average).
Warren has the most renters (35.5% rent).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Ayer | Ware | Warren |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,645 |
10,048Highest |
5,009Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest MA: +7.4% |
+2% MA: +7.4% |
-3.1%Lowest MA: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.2±2.8 about the MA average |
43.1±4.7Highest 8% above MA |
38.7±7.3Lowest 3% below MA |
| Ware and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±3.9 MA: 19.4% |
19.1%±3.5Lowest MA: 19.4% |
20.8%±8Highest MA: 19.4% |
| Warren and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.5%±2.8Lowest MA: 17.9% |
20.6%±3.4Highest MA: 17.9% |
14.6%±4.5 MA: 17.9% |
| Ware and Warren are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3%Highest MA: 47.3% |
24% MA: 47.3% |
23.2%Lowest MA: 47.3% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.5%±1.5Highest MA: 7.9% |
4.4%±2.2 MA: 7.9% |
2.9%±2.1Lowest MA: 7.9% |
| Ayer and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,875±$15kHighest about the MA average |
$67,475±$15k 35% below MA |
$66,082±$6kLowest 36% below MA |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$29kHighest 17% below MA |
$289,700±$28kLowest 48% below MA |
$333,700±$35k 41% below MA |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,415±$180Highest 20% below MA |
$1,043±$109 41% below MA |
$890±$174Lowest 49% below MA |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,057Highest 16% below MA |
$4,237Lowest 29% below MA |
$4,530 24% below MA |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±14.2 MA: 51.8% |
64.3%±16.2Highest MA: 51.8% |
29.7%±18.4Lowest MA: 51.8% |
| Ware and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% MA: 10% |
11.8%Highest MA: 10% |
9%Lowest MA: 10% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.2% MA: 62.5% |
72.3%Highest MA: 62.5% |
64.5%Lowest MA: 62.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Highest 13 yrs newer than MA |
1960Lowest 4 yrs older than MA |
1975 11 yrs newer than MA |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 13% above MA |
28 minLowest about the MA average |
33 min 13% above MA |
| Work from home | 21.6%±5.9Highest MA: 18.6% |
12.3%±3.8 MA: 18.6% |
8.5%±5.4Lowest MA: 18.6% |
| Ayer and Ware are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #113 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #165 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Ayer Shirley School District | Ware | Quaboag Regional |
| High school in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Ware Junior/Senior High School | Quaboag Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Highest |
11.1 |
10.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 12 photos → | None yet | None yet |
MA average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.